More than 250 custom, vintage and show cars filled the lawn at Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) on Saturday for the school’s 14th annual Car, Truck & Jeep Show. This year’s show was designated as a tribute to KWC graduate Wayne Foster, a vital member of the school’s alumni board for many years who, along with a group of alumni representatives, was instrumental in bringing the car show to the school. Foster passed away a couple of years ago.
“The largest turnout we’ve ever had was about 300 cars,” said the event’s organizer Drew Cooper. “Unfortunately, the timing with fall break in town might have brought in fewer entries, but we still have had a great attendance from both the exhibitors and guests.”
Friends Wesley Page and Randy Mayfield came out to look at all of the cars on Saturday.
“We tried to make it out here before it got too hot,” Mayfield said.
The friends were interested in a 1955 Chevy Bel Air, driven by Raymond Robbins from Santa Claus, Indiana, which was parked towards the middle of the front lawn.
“My granddad had a Bel Air that I rode in when I was a kid, so it’s nostalgic for me to see one here,” Mayfield said. “Seeing all of these older cars just continues to bring back memories for me.”
Both Mayfield and Page said that this was their first time attending the car show at KWC.
“But I’ll definitely be back next year,” Page said.
Robbins said he purchased the 1955 Chevy Bel Air in 2017 and has done some engine and interior work on the car. He’s been bringing the car to the show at KWC for about three years.
“It’s only got a little over 12,000 miles on the restoration,” he said.
He said that he enjoys how the cars are set up at the show, organized by category, and he also enjoys seeing all of the other vehicle entries. He specifically mentioned that he enjoys seeing all of the Jeeps lined up together.
“Cars have been my hobby since I was 17 years old,” Robbins said. “I’ve been all over the world as a Navy member and I’ve been able to show cars along the way.”
Cooper said that this year’s Car, Truck & Jeep Show is even more special to the KWC community because it is a tribute to Wayne Foster. Organizers have named the “Best of Show” award the “Wayne Foster Award” as a way to commemorate Foster’s contribution to the college and to the car show. The award is sponsored by American Patriot Getaways.
“Without Wayne’s influence, we wouldn’t be standing here today,” Cooper said.
Two of Foster’s children, Bob Foster and Michelle Foster Jones came out to the event as a way to remember and honor their father’s legacy.
“Dad loved the college, so he would be honored to have his name attached to it,” Foster said. “He always encouraged us to come out to the show every year.”
Foster Jones said that her father’s influence helped introduce her to the world of cars and showing them. She had her 2015 Chevy Corvette displayed for guests.
“I’m the first daughter and you know what they say about us being heavily influenced by other fathers,” she said. “I got my love of cars from him.”
Both Foster and Foster Jones said that their dad would have loved seeing all of the cars out on KWC’s lawn and that he loved bring in his own cars to display.
“He loved bringing his 1937 Ford to car shows,” Foster said.
“We tried to bring it his year,” Foster Jones said, “but it just wouldn’t start. It did make it here last year though.”
Donnie Haley from Manitow in Hopkins County brought his 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo SS to this year’s show. He said he’s owned the car for about 10 years and that he’s enjoyed bringing it to the Car, Truck & Jeep show in the past.
“I enjoy getting to see all of the cars and meeting everyone and just spending time talking about cars since we all have this hobby in common,” he said.
Haley explained that he’s been into showing cars for years, but took a break for awhile when his kids were young and active in sports and their own hobbies.
“Now that I’m not as busy with them, I can indulge in my own car hobbies now,” Haley said.
In addition to the Wayne Foster Best In Show Award, awards are given in about 19 other categories, such as Best GMC, Best Street Rod, Best 2017 or Newer Model and Best Trail Ready Jeep. Each award is sponsored by an area business such as US Bank, Owensboro Auto Spa, River Park Eye Care, Tony Clark Realtors and Ole South Barbeque.
“This event also wouldn’t be possible without our amazing volunteers,” Cooper said.
The show was free to the public and also offered music, door prizes and a raffle for those attending.
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